holes and warped transom

[proshine43]

Hello, I'm about to epoxy my new transom to my outer skin, but I have some questions first. The first one is I had a speedometer cable go through the transom. I'm not using it anymore (gps) so how do I patch the holes up, do I grind and feather and fiberglass before epoxying the new transom or do I put filler in the hole and gelcoat over. Its just the size of a small cable with a few screw holes.

Also my outer skin seems to be a bit bowed inward, if I epoxy the transom to the skin and clamp, will it adhere and keep its shape?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: holes and warped transom

Just fill the small hole with some filler.
As for a 'sunk in' transom, you need to get some pressure from inside and back.
Just clamping it will not do.

 

[fish_on_the_deck]

Re: holes and warped transom

Also my outer skin seems to be a bit bowed inward, if I epoxy the transom to the skin and clamp, will it adhere and keep its shape?

Id think you really need pressure holding the core into the skin... I've seen people drill holes through both and bolt a coupel 2x4's on each side to pull the core and skin together to get a good bond. I'd coat the bolts in PVA vasalene or something so they come out... then fill the holes later.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: holes and warped transom

What I did with mine was I dry fitted the inner transom to the skin. I made sure I had a couple of hardpoints (datumns), as people like to call them here when fitting. What I mean is I cleared all the wood with a grinder except a couple of spots so when I clamped the wood it would help straighten the hull fiberglass. I also put a 2x4 across the outside to hold the skin straight to. This way when you grind/clear the wood you still have the required clearence that is needed for the epoxy and you use the transom wood piece as the inner straightener. Check out my forum and see the pics.

As to the holes. I am at the same point as you are. I just taped the holes off for when I was epoxying the transom in. So the epoxy would not leak all over my outside skin. But later I came back and filled them in with any left over filleting PB epoxy I had left over. The nocked that down and one coat of normal consistency resin to seal it up perfectly. Then Gel coat repair.

 

[sasto]

Re: holes and warped transom

I think making a template of your cap at the transom....clamp it...then the cap should line up when reinstalling it. Good luck.

 

[wallybme]

Re: holes and warped transom

This way when you grind/clear the wood you still have the required clearence that is needed for the epoxy and you use the transom wood piece as the inner straightener. Check out my forum and see the pics.
Where to locate this forum

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: holes and warped transom

Here is the link

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=443915

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: holes and warped transom

Here is a pic of what I mean.



You need to put some thought into where these pads are. You will not want to put them anywhere you plan on bolting through the hull or drilling.

Also for your drain I would cut the wood back an 1" and fill with PB epoxy. Just as a lessons learned. do the epoxy in multipull steps. Don't just fill in a hugh void with a pint of epoxy. It gets very hot and smokes and does not adhere very well. Learn't the hard way. I did mine this way had a big bubble form and had to grind it out and do it by steps.

Hope this helps.

 

[oops!]

Re: holes and warped transom

you are going to have to knock a few holes thru your hull any how....

but....why is it warped?.....are the stands it is sitting on pressing the hull out of shape?.....that must be checked before you continue......

tipically...a v shaped cradle will support the hull properly.
click the link in my sig for a picture.....its near the front of the thread.

with a warped outer skin.....the transom wood flattness will pull it straight....but.....you will need exterior bracing to adhere the warped glass back to the hull.

to do that.......you will need several peices of angle iron....with bolt holes drilled thru it.....

dry fit the transom and angle iron using several thru transom and hull bolts.

when it is correct and you are confident all the voids are gone......then you can install your transom in traditional ways....the link has detailed information.

cheers
oops

 

[proshine43]

Re: holes and warped transom

Thanks everyone for all your replies. Though I'm not confortabel with drilling holes through the outer skin because I'm afraid of what my gelcoat repair will look like, I've never done one yet. I'll give it a shot. Thanks again.

 

[Mark42]

Re: holes and warped transom

Regarding the transom skin being "bowed in": Check to be sure the boat is not just sagging. Get a couple of friends to pull the sides apart and see if the transom skin pulls straight. If so, then follow Oops advice about cross braces. If you don't want to drill holes, then careful measurements should let you cut some wood cross braces that are just an inch or so too long and be placed inside the gunnels and tapped into place to stretch out the sides to pull the transom skin tight.

Just a thought. Good luck!

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: holes and warped transom

To me this is gettin way over complicated...

Fix the speedo hole. Fill and fair ( worry about the color match later ).

Your going to have to do this at some point..so I suggest doing it before the trans.

YD.

 

[proshine43]

Re: holes and warped transom

My son helping cut transom